Assessment of Vulnerability to the Health Impacts of Climate Change - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Assessment of Vulnerability to the Health Impacts of Climate Change Peterborough City and County

Climate Change in Canada • Since 2008, strong evidence of health risks due to changing climate • Local evidence is JUST starting to emerge on impacts to health • Increased knowledge of climate change and vulnerabilities • Greater efforts to increase public awareness

OPHS • PCCHU is required to increase public awareness of the health risk factors associated with climate change • Vulnerability assessments should provide information for decision makers on the extent and magnitude of likely health risks attributable to climate change

Key Threats • Extreme Weather – heat, cold, flooding • Air Quality and UV radiation • Waterborne and Foodborne Illness • Vectorborne Disease

MEME model

Demographics • City of Peterborough, eight municipal townships and two First Nation communities

Demographics – con’t • 2011 – City 78,700, County 54,000, FN 1400 • To the south – agriculture, urban communities • To the north – lakes, rivers, diverse landscapes, seasonal recreational use • 48,848 private dwellings (CMA) (75% owner occupied) • 23.9% minor repairs, 7.9% major repairs

Demographics – con’t • CMA – males 48%, females 52% • From 2006, saw a decrease in 0-14 and increase in 65+ • Median age increased to 44.6 from 40.4 • 2030 – 28.6% will be 65+ (ONT 21.9%)

Demographics – con’t • Education – one of the main determinants of health at population level • 24% of 15+ who do not have at least high school • 16.3% - University level (ONT 24.6%)

Vectorborne Disease • Mosquito borne – West Nile virus, eastern Equine encephalitis • Tick borne – Lyme, Powassan encephalitis • Peterborough County not risk area for Lyme • Powassan emerging in the USA – PHAC will be testing ticks to determine activity

VBD – Climate • 2100 – average global temperature increase of 1.0- 3.5⁰C • Biology and ecology of vectors and hosts will be affected and risks of disease transmission can increase • Larvae mature faster in warm temperatures • EEE and Powassan are evidence of northwards expansion of VBD

VBD – Built Envr • 25 VBD associated with changes in urbanization, deforestation and agricultural practices • Human encroachment into wildlife habitats • Impervious surfaces – pooling water • Rural – water irrigation management, vaccination of livestock

VBD – Socio-economic • Lower income – condition of homes (screens), tenants, closer proximity housing (failure to remove breeding sites) • Access to physicians • PPM can be a financial burden • Education level – access to information • Outdoor employment

VBD - Demographics • Aging population = potential for more serious VBD cases • 0-14 are reliant on caregivers for PPM • 93% English speaking – educational materials in other languages

VBD - Exposures • Mosquitoes – anywhere • Ticks – forests and tall grass • Travel may increase risk • Mosquito pools fluctuate with weather, as do WNv positive ones YEAR WNv Positive Mosquito Pools 2010 0 2011 3 2012 7 2013 1 2014 0

VBD - Vulnerable • > 50 years of age, chronic disease, immunosuppressed – mosquitoes • Persons who work outdoors or partake in outdoor activities in forests/trails – ticks • Those reliant on others for protection (children, persons with disability)

VBD – Health Outcomes • Mild to severe illnesses • Missed work, missed school • Increased strain on healthcare system

VBD - Preventative • PCCHU education, awareness, testing, surveillance for vectors • Human surveillance • City of Peterborough – larviciding, Stagnant Water Bylaw • MOHLTC – adulticide emergency plan

Waterborne/Foodborne Illness • Exposure to chemicals or microbes in drinking water and recreational water • Human illness indicating a food was the source of exposure to the contaminant causing the illness – bacteria, virus, parasite, toxins

WB/FB - Climate • WB diseases particularly sensitive to changes in the hydrologic cycle • Heavy rainfall can overwhelm WTP due to increased turbidity resulting in inadequate disinfection • Increased temperature is linked to increased incidences of blue-green algae Number of reported blue-green algal blooms Year in Peterborough County 2008 1 2009 0 2010 2 2011 3 2012 2 2013 2 2014 0

WB/FB - Climate • Warm weather allows bacteria to grow more readily in foods • Favours flies and pests • Floodwater can impact food supplies – silt, sewage, oil, chemical waste

WB/FB – Socio- economic/Demographic • Access to information on safe food handling • Differential exposure to contaminated water • Low income – potentially no water treatment, limited access (transportation) for lab sampling • Large proportion aged 65+ - most vulnerable • Also young, chronic disease, immunocompromised, pregnant women

WB/FB - Exposures • Drinking water • Rec Water • Fish – Guidelines • Increased public events in summer, warmer temp food handling • Increased consumption of fruits and vegetables, home gardening and preserving

WB/FB – Health outcomes • Range of symptoms from mild to severe • Nitrate in well water – methaemoglobinaemia • Pathogens are threat to animal health DISEASE 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 CAMPYLOBACTER ENTERITIS 36 5.4 27 3.8 30 4.0 36 5.4 33 4.6 GIARDIASIS 21 3.1 8 1.1 11 1.5 25 3.8 20 2.8 SALMONELLOSIS 27 4.0 18 2.5 27 3.6 30 4.5 29 4.0

WB/FB - Preventative • PCCHU inspection services • PCCHU human disease surveillance and outbreaks • BWAs • MOE oversight of drinking water systems • Rec water testing

Air Quality and UV Radiation • Air pollution from forest fires, dust, emissions, smog (mainly ground level ozone and fine particulate matter) • More than half of ONT’s smog comes from south of the border, travelling north in wind • Thinning of ozone layer allows for greater exposure to UV rays

AQ and UV - Climate • Air pollution episodes in Canada are predicted to get longer and more severe with climate change • Increases in emissions also causes changes in optimal growing conditions, increased heat stress, threat of new pests, extreme weather • Four-fold increase in forest fires in USA

AQ and UV – Built Envr • Planning and design of smart design communities – reduced emissions • Maintain forests, wetlands – important in removal and storage of atmospheric carbon dioxide • Agricultural products and forestry can be alternative fuels

AQ and UV – Socio-economic • Low-income – more likely to live closer to major roads and industrial pollution sources AND have underlying health conditions exacerbated by poor air • 8% of Peterborough houses require major repair – possibility of poor ventilation in these homes leading to air quality issues

AQ and UV - Demographics • 65+ experience adverse impacts from poor air quality • Melanoma rates increased which can be attributed to differences in proportion of visible minorities in Peterborough in addition to the aging population

AQ and UV – Exposure • MOECC AQI revealed 1 poor air quality day and 34 moderate air days in both 2013 and 2014 • PM in home from wood burning appliances • Warmer temperatures – spend more time outdoors • No large point source emissions in Ptbo

AQ and UV - Vulnerable • Young children • Elderly • Respiratory, cardiovascular conditions • Those active outdoors • UV – light coloured skin/eyes/hair, work or play outdoors, medications causing increased sensitivity to the sun • Children rely on caregivers for PPM

AQ and UV – Health Outcomes • OMA predicts over 7000 premature deaths in 2015 from air pollution • Modelling estimated 119 premature deaths in Ptbo (smog related) • 2014 Canadian Cancer Society report – Ptbo third highest rate of malignant melanoma in ONT • 26.7 cases per 100,000 (ONT 15.6 cases)

AQ and UV - Preventative • AQI/AQHI • PCCHU smog alerts • Education on reducing impacts and protection from poor air quality • PCCHU cancer prevention • Drive Clean, reduction/elimination of coal fired plants, carpool lots, transit increases, bike lanes, land use planning policies

Extreme Weather • Extreme heat • Extreme cold • Increased precipitation • Increased incidence of tornados

Extreme Weather - Climate • Over the past 66 years – annual average temperatures across Canada increased 1.6⁰C • Projections for communities across the country to experience increases in heat events • Precipitation intensity is expected to increase over much of the globe • As planet becomes warmer there is potential for increased storms

Extreme Weather – Built Envr • Population growth and urbanization generally reduces the capacity of watersheds to absorb run-off • Resilient building needed to withstand extreme weather events • On-site renewable power generation • Social connectivity

Extreme Weather – Socio- economic/demographic • Income - home repairs, recovery from extreme events • Education – access to adaptive behaviours in the event of an extreme weather event, understanding health risks • Homeless • Young children and 65+ vulnerable